An Introduction

For more than 100 years, Loyola University Chicago’s part-time evening JD program has provided an opportunity for students with busy lives to earn an outstanding law degree. Now, we have moved our part-time program to the next level.

staff

Kirk Walter joined Loyola University Chicago in August 2017 as director of the School of Law’s Weekend JD Program. He brings to Loyola a wealth of experience as a lawyer, advocate, mediator, and higher education administrator. Here he shares what is unique about the Weekend JD program and why Loyola is a great choice for law school.

In The News

JD - Part-Time

Loyola’s Weekend JD program

Imagine a part-time JD program that fits into your busy schedule. One that combines on campus classes with online course components, and one that features nationally renowned professors in a world-class city. Now, imagine that program meeting just 14 weekends a year. That is Loyola’s Weekend JD program—thoughtfully designed to turn your law school ambitions into reality.

A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. undergraduate institution or its foreign equivalent and the LSAT are required. The LSAT is offered four times a year in October, December, February and June. For more information and to register, visit LSAC.org. For a complete list of application requirements please visit our How to Apply page.

You must submit an application and supporting materials through Law School Admissions Council. For additional information about the process, visit our How to Apply page. Loyola does not charge an application fee.

Complementing the classroom experience, the Weekend JD curriculum will also utilize online components. You will use Loyola’s cutting-edge online learning management system to complete assignments, listen to lectures, and communicate with your professors.

2017-18 tuition for the part-time program is $34,860. In order to complete the degree, students may need to take more than 12 credit hours in some terms and/or take summer or intersession courses, which may result in increased tuition for some terms.

Yes, you will receive assistance securing on-campus housing or accommodations in a variety of hotels near campus.

A part-time program, a full-time focus on you

The Weekend JD program is designed to reinforce the school’s mission, challenge students to learn creatively and think critically, and prepare them to meet the legal profession’s constantly evolving needs. In-person classes meet every other weekend: Saturdays from 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sundays from 8:30 a.m.–1:45p.m. View a sample weekend course schedule here.

November

Spring 2019 Dates To Be Determined

Semester 1: Fall 2016

Legal Writing I focuses on analyzing and applying legal authorities to particular fact situations. Through a series of legal memoranda writing assignments, students develop their analytical and writing skills.

Torts introduces the substantive law governing compensation for injuries to property and to the person, including negligence, malpractice, intentional wrongs, strict and products liability, and invasions of personal integrity.

Administrative Law examines the rules by which federal administrative agencies operate, including the source of administrative authority and procedures governing the exercise of that authority.
Federal Income Tax introduces and analyzes the basic concepts underlying the law of federal income taxation, including gross income, identification of the taxpayer, deductions, timing of income, and characterization and recognition.

Business Organizations focuses on the law governing the organization and functioning of corporations and other business entities.
Evidence provides an evaluation of the rules used to present information to a fact finder in a trial with a focus on the rules of relevancy, the rules governing witnesses, and the rules against hearsay.

Semester 5

Professional Responsibility focuses on ethical questions in the practice of law, and examines the basic premises underlying the lawyer-client relationship and the duties assumed by the members of the legal profession.

Administrative Law examines the rules by which federal administrative agencies operate, including the source of administrative authority and procedures governing the exercise of that authority.
Federal Income Tax introduces and analyzes the basic concepts underlying the law of federal income taxation, including gross income, identification of the taxpayer, deductions, timing of income, and characterization and recognition.

Semester 6

Experiential learning classes enable students to perform their legal knowledge, skills and values in a real or simulated practice setting with intense, ongoing law school supervision and assessment. Examples include live-client clinics, judicial or non-judicial externships, practica, or comprehensive simulations.

Business Organizations focuses on the law governing the organization and functioning of corporations and other business entities.
Evidence provides an evaluation of the rules used to present information to a fact finder in a trial with a focus on the rules of relevancy, the rules governing witnesses, and the rules against hearsay.

Semester 7

Experiential Learning classes enable students to perform their legal knowledge, skills and values in a real or simulated practice setting with intense, ongoing law school supervision and assessment. Examples include live-client clinics, judicial or non-judicial externships, practica, or comprehensive simulations.

Students can choose an elective from nearly two dozen courses, which are offered on a rotating basis.

Degree Requirements:To earn a JD degree, you must complete 86 credit hours of coursework. This will require coursework from flexible course options in addition to the curriculum listed above. You may choose to take courses during the summer terms following semesters two, four, six and/or take additional credit hours during semesters four through seven.

Flexible Course Options:In addition to an array of electives, many flexible course options will be available, including independent study, intersession courses, and fully online courses (as many as 15 credit hours of fully online coursework after completion of third semester).

Meet students from Loyola’s Weekend JD Program

Students enrolled in our Weekend JD program bring a wealth of experience and perspectives.

By the numbers

Loyola’s part-time JD program is ranked #14 in the country by US News & World Report, top in Chicago and Midwest.

88%

Percentage of Loyola JD graduates who are employed within nine months of graduation

Hear from our outstanding alumni

Graduates of the School of Law’s part-time JD program have achieved remarkable success serving in government agencies, as state and federal judges, and as trial lawyers across the country. Students enrolled in the Weekend JD program will receive the same extraordinary opportunity to benefit from a quality legal education at Loyola.

“Loyola’s part-time night law school program gave me a chance to obtain a law degree, and still support my family with a full time job. Without Loyola’s part-time program, I would not have had a chance to have a legal career as a trial attorney.”